Fjord (noun)
\ fē-ˈȯrd , ˈfē-ˌȯrd; ˈfyȯrd \
A deep body of water between cliffs or steep slopes, carved by glaciers
Most people are familiar with the spectacular fjords of Norway, but many are surprised to learn that the Hudson River is also a fjord, formed 26,000 to 13,300 years ago!
Fjord Trail (proper noun)
\ fē-ˈȯrd trāl \
A future linear park in the Hudson Highlands, spanning 7.5 walkable, bikeable miles between New York’s Village of Cold Spring and City of Beacon
The Fjord Trail is located at the point where glacier activity carved the riverway through the mountains on either side and the water reaches depths of 175 feet. By naming the project 'The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail', we hope to encourage exploration into the fascinating geologic history of our area.


The Fjord Trail Project
#FJORDTRAIL
Fjords are formed over the course of thousands of years, but the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail won’t take quite that long! The project is still in the planning phase — with completion projected for 2030— and it will be well worth the wait.
The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail offers a community-driven solution for managing tourism in the region and will make the beauty that surrounds us more accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
The Fjord Trail will:
- Help our community better manage the thousands of people who visit the region for hiking and recreation and keep pedestrians off neighborhood streets and away from busy and dangerous Route 9D. Connecting Beacon and Cold Spring, the Trail will provide six access points for visitors across 7.5 miles to help relieve the existing impact tourism has on local infrastructure, parking, and services. The Trail will also move hikers and pedestrians off the highway by providing sidewalks from train to Trail, crosswalks, and designated waiting areas.
- Provide much-needed amenities and infrastructure that local municipalities have not been able to afford for visitors and residents who utilize the local trail system. HHFT, Inc. will provide and manage local amenities including: sidewalks from the train to the trail and from Fair Street in Cold Spring to Little Stony Point, wayfinding signage, bathrooms open from dawn to dusk, and garbage collection along the Trail.
- Ensure greater access to the riverfront and trails for all residents and visitors by making them more accommodating to seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children. The trail will be ADA-compliant.
- Protect our local environment for the long-term by repairing erosion, managing invasive species, and increasing shoreline resiliency.
Completion of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is projected for 2030, but you can enjoy some of the connecting elements of the Fjord Trail now!
Learn More About the Fjord Trail
Use the links below to see the full project vision and learn more about the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail organization.
Community Engagement
The Fjord Trail Draft Master Plan is the result of years of refinement by local stakeholders, regional entities, and state agencies. Public input has been – and continues to be – fundamental to this planning process. Since the creation of the 2020 Draft Master Plan, HHFT has held nearly 50 stakeholder meetings, public presentations, and visioning sessions. Many of the sessions were recorded and are available for viewing.
Steering Committee
The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail is a combined state, regional, and private partnership illustrating the benefits of community collaboration. Nineteen agencies and nonprofit organizations have been working together for years to bring you this inspirational experience... find out who they are!
Our Staff and Board of Directors
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, Inc. was formed in January 2020 as an independently managed 501(c)(3) supporting organization of Scenic Hudson, Inc. HHFT is governed by a seven-person board of directors and Executive Director Amy Kacala leads a team of six staff members. Our staff will grow to meet the needs of the project, and we’ll be introducing new positions as it develops.
FAQs
When does construction begin? Can I hike the Fjord Trail now? Where will you put all the cars? These questions and more are answered on this section of our website—and if you want to know something not answered here, get in touch with us at info@hhft.org
Header image photography: Meredith Heuer
Park diagram: RBA Architects
Project description photography: Pierce Johnston
Illustration: Donna Calcavecchio
Master Plan panel photography: Greg Miller
Timeline panel rendering: SCAPE Landscape Architects
Project History panel photography: ScubaBear68;
Color-correcting and cropping 2009-02-04 by
Daniel Case, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Partners panel photography: SCAPE Landscape Architecture
FAQs panel rendering: SCAPE Landscape Architecture